The Panpoëticon Batavûm

This publication focuses on one of the most compelling examples of the eighteenth-century fascination with portraits of authors: the Panpoëticon Batavûm, a collection of portraits of Dutch writers, past and present, which was established around the turn of the eighteenth century. By examining the tangible objects in this collection, using an interdisciplinary approach that combines cultural history with relevant notions from the fields of both art history and literary history, this publication contributes to more general discussions about authorship in the early modern period, while revealing the story of these unique and largely overlooked early modern portraits of writers.